Remote Control Master Streams

What used to be considered a frivolous luxury has now become justifiable. With limited staffing, and in an effort to reduce the reasons a firefighter must climb on top of the apparatus, I am looking into our department's first remote control master stream to be mount on the apparatus.

We have looked at the remote control Elkhart Vulcan and the TFT Hurricane (both 1250gpm). We will use the electric-powered riser,and the primary controller will be hard-mounted on the pump panel.

Would FF's using either of these devices share your pros and cons and opinions of these two brands.

i know this isnt a brand you're considering, but we've have good service from Akron's Deckmaster with both wired and wireless controllers. Just make sure you dont store crap loose near the deck gun that can interfere with its operation.

We have looked at the remote control Elkhart Vulcan and the TFT Hurricane (both 1250gpm). We will use the electric-powered riser,and the primary controller will be hard-mounted on the pump panel.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt because you said the "primary" controller.

If you gonna spend the money, get one with wireless remote operation so that whoever is operating the device will be able to step away from the apparatus and see what the water is actually hitting on ALL sides of the apparatus.

Go with the wireless remote and I think you will find that it will become the "primary" controls.

A couple months ago I installed the Akron Deckmaster wireless system on a VFD rig. Their reasoning was so that the pump operator could make the changes without him going on top, or using someone else to change the attack flow.

After the installation and testing, the thing worked out pretty good, and from a decent distance from the operator to the deck gun. Movement, as found out after using it, was very predictable and smooth.

As for OP's choices, I don't have any experience with either of them. But, either one should work fine for what you need them to do.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt because you said the "primary" controller.

If you gonna spend the money, get one with wireless remote operation so that whoever is operating the device will be able to step away from the apparatus and see what the water is actually hitting on ALL sides of the apparatus.

Go with the wireless remote and I think you will find that it will become the "primary" controls.

Is this going to be like trying to find the TV remote??? Will you end up chaining it to the truck?

We considered getting one on our tanker, and couldn't justify spending that amount of money on something that might get used once a year on the rig, and when it does get used, it's not at a time you need to hury up and bust your *** to get it in service, instead you have the extra minet or two to have some one safely climb up and operate it manualy, even with low staffing.

We have the TFT on both the truck and our new engine. Works great, the biggest recommendation I could give is get the remote. On our engine you can't see the gun from the pump pannel and therefore have no idea which direction it is facing. Obviously if you have a mid-mount pump pannel, you won't need the wireless operation. Very easy to use and a suprisingly tight stream for an adjustable nozzle.